Programmable wireless control system for mixers

ABSTRACT

A food mixer is presented having mixing tool detection capability. The food mixer has a base unit with a tool attachment portion, a mixing bowl attached to the base unit, and a motor attached to the base unit. The motor has operational settings and is configured to apply a torque to the tool attachment portion. A mixing tool is removably attached to the tool attachment portion, and a controller unit of the mixer is configured to detect the mixing tool attached to the tool attachment portion and to automatically control the operational settings of the drive motor based on the mixing tool detected. A magnet carrier may be used to detect a magnetic portion of the mixing tool as it moves with respect to a magnetically-sensitive sensor in the base unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to food preparationapparatuses, systems, and methods and relates particularly to foodmixing machines and methods with improved mixing quality and userinteraction and interface.

BACKGROUND

Food nixing machines are used to stir, mix, and knead ingredients inbowls. Stand mixers, for example, are food mixing machines that have amotor mounted in a weight-bearing frame or stand. The motor rotatesmixing or agitating tools such as paddles, whisks, wire whips, and hookswhile they are positioned in a bowl or other mixing container. Themotorized tools mix, knead, whip, and stir ingredients in the bowl tosave time and labor.

Conventional food preparation equipment frustrate users in many ways.For a given task, if the wrong attachment tool is used, the machine mayperform poorly or even cause damage to the mixer or tool. Users aretherefore burdened with a need to spend time to learn how and when touse each tool, often with less-than-ideal results. Also, users oftenhave to learn by trial and error how long and at what speeds a machineneeds to mix or knead certain recipes. This often leads to wastedbatches of ingredients that are improperly mixed.

Also, food mixers may not effectively mix small volumes of ingredients.Mixer tools do not usually reach far enough into a bowl to be able tomix or whip small portions of ingredients by themselves since theingredients settle below the tips of the tools or otherwise do not getenough engagement with mixing implement. For example, a typical mixerrequires three or more egg whites to make meringue, but would be unableto do so with one egg white. A mixer tool can be configured to fittightly against a bottom surface of the bowl, but the tool can bedamaged if the tool is then operated without the bowl correctlypositioned, if the tool gets bent, or if heavy or solid ingredientsresist the precisely configured movement of the tool.

Some food mixers do not have lids over the bowls, so powdery or liquidingredients may easily splash or float out of the bowl during mixing,especially when the mixer runs at high speeds. Other mixers have lids orcovers for the bowl that limit expulsion of ingredients, but they do noteffectively provide access or vision of the interior of the bowl. Also,because the lids may be difficult or time-consuming to attach to thebowl, they may detrimentally come off as mixing tools are moving. Theselids usually also have a central opening that opens directly above amixer tool attachment, so when ingredients are added to the mix, theyare placed at least partially on top of the tool attachment in a waythat unnecessarily slows down the user, prolongs mixing tasks, andwastes ingredients.

There is therefore a need for improvements in food preparation andmixing equipment and methods.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a food mixing machinefor mixing ingredients is provided. The food mixing machine may comprisea base unit configured to rest on a horizontal surface. A motor may bepositioned in the base unit. A bowl may be attached to the base unit,wherein the bowl may have a longitudinal axis extending at an angle thatis non-parallel relative to a gravitational direction while the baseunit is resting on the horizontal surface. A mixing tool may bepositioned in the bowl, wherein the mixing tool may be operablyconnected to the motor to receive a torque from the motor and to movewithin the bowl to mix contents of the bowl.

The food mixing machine may have an angle that measures between about165 degrees and about 175 degrees relative to the gravitationaldirection. The bowl may further comprise a central opening and the baseunit further comprises a drive shaft, with the drive shaft extendingthrough the central opening and connecting to the mixing tool. The bowlmay comprise a central column extending through the bowl. The bowl maycomprise an annular receptacle for holding ingredients. The bowl mayalso be removably attached to the base unit. The base unit may furthercomprise a nest portion, wherein the bowl may be attached to the baseunit within the nest portion.

The mixing tool may be movable along the longitudinal axis of the bowland may comprise a first gear surface engaging a second gear surfacetorqued by the motor. The first gear surface and the second gear surfacemay be helical.

A lid may cover the bowl, wherein the lid may have a recessed topsurface that has a side portion in which an aperture is formed, and theaperture may open into the bowl. The lid may be attachable to the bowlin a plurality of positions. The aperture may be offset from thelongitudinal axis of the bowl and may be formed in a nadir of therecessed top surface. The aperture may also comprise a first width at afirst end of the aperture and a second width at a second end of theaperture, wherein the first width is larger than the second width. Themixing tool may be configured to rotate in a direction of rotationrelative to the bowl, wherein the first end of the aperture in the lidis upstream of the second end of the aperture relative to the directionof rotation of the mixing tool.

In some embodiments, the base unit may comprise a plurality of housingportions connected to each other, with the plurality of housing portionsforming an outer surface of the base unit that is water-tight. The bowl,motor, and mixing tool may be concentrically aligned along thelongitudinal axis. The mixing tool may be directly driven by a driveshaft extending from the motor.

Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a method for improvingmixture of ingredients in a food mixing machine. The method may compriseproviding a food mixing machine having a base unit, a bowl attached tothe base unit, a mixing tool positioned in the bowl, and a motorconfigured to rotate the mixing tool relative to the bowl, wherein thebowl may have a longitudinal axis. The method may further comprisepositioning the base unit of the food mixing machine on a horizontalsurface with the longitudinal axis of the bowl being non-perpendicularto the horizontal surface, inserting an ingredient into the bowl, andmixing the ingredient by rotating the mixing tool using the motor.

In some embodiments the ingredient is gravitationally biased to settletoward one side of the bowl. The mixing tool may be removably attachedto the base unit. The method may also comprise attaching the mixing toolto a drive shaft, the drive shaft being rotatable by the motor. Themixing tool may be rotated upon attachment to or detachment from thebase unit. Positioning the base unit may comprise positioning thelongitudinal axis of the bowl at an a between about 75 and about 85degrees relative to the horizontal surface. Positioning the base unitmay comprise placing a bottom surface of the base unit on the horizontalsurface. Positioning the base unit may comprise resting a plurality offeet of the base unit on the horizontal surface. The mixing tool may beconfigured to touch a bottom surface of the bowl while mixing theingredient. In some arrangements, the method may further compriseinserting a drive shaft of the food mixing machine through the bowl.

Another aspect of the disclosure is a food preparation machine formixing ingredients, wherein the food preparation machine comprises abase unit positionable on a horizontal surface and a bowl extending fromthe base unit, with the bowl having a first side and a second side, thefirst side being positioned closer to the horizontal surface than thesecond side. The machine may also comprise a mixing tool positioned inthe bowl, with the mixing tool being operable to move within the bowl tomix contents of the bowl, and a motor positioned in the base unit andconfigured to rotate the mixing tool relative to the bowl.

In this machine, a plane extending through a bottom surface of the bowlmay be positioned at a non-perpendicular angle relative to a verticalaxis through the base unit. The bowl may be removably attached to thebase unit. The bowl may comprise an annular shape. A drive shaft mayextend centrally through the bowl into engagement with the mixing tool.The mixing tool may be removably attached to the drive shaft. The mixingtool may be configured to contact a bottom surface of the bowl at leaston the first side of the bowl. The base unit may comprise a plurality ofhousing portions connected to each other, the plurality of housingportions forming an outer surface of the base unit that is water-tight.

Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a food mixer that maycomprise a base unit having a tool attachment portion, a mixing bowlattached to the base unit, and a motor attached to the base unit. Themotor may have operational settings and may be configured to apply atorque to the tool attachment portion. A mixing tool may be removablyattached to the tool attachment portion, and a controller unit may beconfigured to detect the mixing tool attached to the tool attachmentportion and to automatically control the operational settings of thedrive motor based on the mixing tool detected.

The tool attachment portion may comprise a detection magnet and the baseunit may comprise a sensor. The sensor may be connected to thecontroller unit and may be configured to sense a magnetic field of thedetection magnet. The sensor may also be configured to determine adistance between the detection magnet and the sensor or to detectmovement of the detection magnet. The detection magnet may be biasedtoward or away from the sensor by a biasing member. The food mixer mayalso comprise a magnet holder and a second magnet, the magnet holderbeing positioned within the tool attachment portion, the detectionmagnet being attached to a first end of the magnet holder, the secondmagnet being attached to a second end of the magnet holder, and whereinthe second end is positioned proximate to the sensor in comparison tothe first end.

The operational settings may comprise at least one of an operatingspeed, an operating time, and an operating power of the motor. Thecontroller unit may be configured to detect a power level and a rotationspeed of the motor and to output a signal if the rotation speed of themotor rises above an upper threshold value or falls below a lowerthreshold value for the power level and for the mixing tool detected. Insome embodiments, the signal disables the motor. The signal may alsooutput a message to a user interface.

Yet another aspect of the disclosure is a fast-stop food preparationapparatus. It may comprise a base unit, a mixing container attached tothe base unit, a mixing tool configured to extend into and move withinthe mixing container, and a motor within the base unit. The motor may beconfigured to provide a torque to the mixing tool. A control unit may bewithin the base unit and connected to the motor. A contact sensor may beconnected to the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured tostop rotation of the motor when the contact sensor detects a touch of ahuman hand.

In some arrangements, the mixing tool comprises a mixing memberextending into the mixing container, wherein the contact sensor isconnected to the mixing member and is configured to detect a touch of ahuman hand in contact with the mixing member. The mixing member may bean elongated hook, whisk, or kneading member. The base unit may comprisean outer surface, wherein the contact sensor is connected to the outersurface and is configured to detect a touch of a human hand in contactwith the outer surface. This outer surface may be a user interfaceportion of the base unit.

The controller may be configured to stop rotation of the motor byreversing a motor drive direction of the motor. The motor may beconfigured to stop almost instantaneously, and more specifically withinjust a few degrees of a revolution. In some configurations the mixingtool may be configured to rotate within the mixing container, and themixing container may be a bowl.

Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a programmable foodpreparation system. The system may include a food preparation apparatusthat has a mixing container, a mixing tool extending into the mixingcontainer, a motor configured to apply a torque to the mixing tool, acontroller unit connected to the motor and configured to control anoperational setting of the motor, and a first wireless communicationinterface in communication with the controller unit. The system may alsoinclude a remote control device comprising a computing device configuredto receive operational parameters of the motor, and a second wirelesscommunication interface configured to connect to the first wirelesscommunication interface to transfer the operational parameters to thecontroller unit using the computing device. The controller unit may beconfigured to control the operational setting of the motor according tothe operational parameters for preparing food in the mixing containerusing the mixing tool.

In some embodiments, the remote control device may comprise a connectionto the Internet and may be configured to receive the operationalparameters of the motor via the connection to the Internet. The remotecontrol device may comprise a user interface and may be configured toreceive the operational parameters of the motor via the user interface.The user interface may be touch-sensitive and may be positioned within ahousing of the food preparation apparatus. The remote control device mayalso be portable.

The controller may be configured to stop rotation of the motor byreversing a motor drive direction of the motor. The motor may beconfigured to stop almost instantaneously, and more specifically withinjust a few degrees of a revolution. In some configurations the mixingtool may be configured to rotate within the mixing container, and themixing container may be a bowl.

Still another aspect of the disclosure relates to a food preparationapparatus which may comprise a base unit, a mixing container attached tothe base unit, a magnet sensor linked to the base unit, a mixing toolpositioned in the mixing container, and a motor within the base unitthat is configured to provide a torque to the mixing tool to move themixing member within the mixing container. A lid may be removablyattachable to the mixing container, and the lid may have a magnetpositioned proximate the magnet sensor of the mixing container when thelid is attached to the mixing container in a locked orientation. Acontrol unit may be connected to the magnet sensor and the motor, andthe control unit may be configured to disable rotation of the motor whenthe lid is not in the locked orientation.

The magnet sensor may be positioned at a top end portion of the mixingcontainer and may be a Reed switch. The lid may be attachable to themixing container in a plurality of locked orientations.

The mixing container may be removably attached to the base unit, whereinthe mixing container may comprise a first electrical interface connectedto the magnet sensor, and the base unit may comprise a second electricalinterface connected to the controller. The first and second electricalinterfaces may be connected to each other when the mixing container isremovably attached to the base unit in order to provide electricalconnection between the magnet sensor and the control unit. The lid maycomprise a flexible portion, and the magnet may be positioned in theflexible portion. The base unit may comprise a lid detection portionextending toward the lid, wherein the magnet sensor may be positioned inthe lid detection portion.

Another aspect of the disclosure is related to a variable-engagementplanetary food mixing tool for attachment to a motorized food mixingapparatus. The tool may comprise a body having a driveshaft engagementportion and a first longitudinal axis and a sun gear concentric with thefirst longitudinal axis, wherein the sun gear may have a first helicalgear surface. A planet gear having a second longitudinal axis may alsobe included, with the second longitudinal axis being non-parallel to thefirst longitudinal axis, and the planet gear having a second helicalgear surface extending around the second longitudinal axis. The planetgear may engage the first helical gear surface of the sun gear in aplurality of positions along the second longitudinal axis. A mixingmember may be connected to the planet gear and may be configured to movearound the first longitudinal axis while rotating around the secondlongitudinal axis as the planet gear traverses the sun gear.

In some embodiments, the driveshaft engagement portion may comprise athird helical gear surface configured to engage a gear surface of adriveshaft. The sun gear may comprise a bowl engagement portion that isconfigured to hold the sun gear stationary relative to a bowl when thebowl is inserted into the sun gear. The mixing member may be at leastone of a hook, a whisk, a blade, or a kneading member.

The position of the planet gear along the second longitudinal axis maybe dependent upon a velocity of movement of the planet gear relative tothe sun gear. The position of the planet gear along the secondlongitudinal axis may be dependent upon a force applied to the mixingmember along the second longitudinal axis. The first helical gearsurface may have a first plurality of gear teeth and the second helicalhear surface may have a second plurality of gear teeth, and the firstplurality of gear teeth may not be a multiple of the second plurality ofgear teeth.

The mixing member may comprise a plurality of wires, each of the wireshaving a diameter between about 0.09 inches and about 0.2 inches. Insome embodiments the mixing member may comprise a plurality of wiresforming a whisk shape, with each of the wires having a distal endextending away from the planet gear, and wherein the plurality of wiresare laterally separable from each other at the distal ends or arenon-overlapping along a longitudinal axis of the mixing member.

In another embodiment, a motorized food mixing apparatus having avariable engagement planetary food mixing tool is provided. The mixingapparatus may comprise a base unit and a motor housed in the base unit.A driveshaft may be rotatable by the motor, with the driveshaft having afirst longitudinal axis. A mixing container may be attached to the baseunit, and a mixing tool may be included that comprises a body engagingthe driveshaft, a sun gear concentric with the first longitudinal axis,the sun gear having a first helical gear surface, a planet gear having asecond longitudinal axis, the second longitudinal axis beingnon-parallel to the first longitudinal axis, the planet gear having asecond helical gear surface extending around the second longitudinalaxis and engaging the first helical gear surface of the sun gear in aplurality of positions along the second longitudinal axis, and a mixingmember extending into the mixing container, wherein the mixing member isconnected to the planet gear and configured to move around the firstlongitudinal axis while rotating around the second longitudinal axis asthe planet gear traverses the sun gear.

The mixing container may comprise a post and the sun gear of the mixingtool may comprise an engagement surface, wherein the engagement surfaceengages the post and holds the sun gear stationary relative to the post.The mixing member may rest against a bottom surface of the mixingcontainer. The first longitudinal axis may be tilted away from avertical direction.

Another embodiment discloses a food mixer which may comprise a base unithaving a tool attachment portion. A mixing bowl may be attached to thebase unit. A motor may be attached to the base unit, wherein the motormay have operational settings and may be configured to apply a torque tothe tool attachment portion. A mixing tool may be removably attached tothe tool attachment portion. A temperature sensor of the mixer may beconfigured to measure a temperature of the motor, and a controller unitmay be configured to receive measurements of the temperature of themotor and to reference motor efficiency data to determine an outputpower of the motor.

Yet another embodiment discloses a method of controlling a food mixerapparatus that comprises providing a mixer apparatus having a motorconnected to a mixing tool attachment, an input power sensor for themotor, and a temperature sensor for the motor. The mixing toolattachment may extend into a mixing container. The method may furthercomprise operating the motor to rotate the mixing tool attachment, andmeasuring the temperature of the motor using the temperature sensor andthe input power of the motor or using the input power sensor while themotor is operating. The method may then comprise calculating the outputpower of the motor using the input power and the temperature of themotor and adjusting operational settings of the motor based on thecalculated output power.

The above summary of the present invention is not intended to describeeach embodiment or every implementation of the present invention. TheFigures and the detailed description that follow more particularlyexemplify a preferred embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings and figures illustrate a number of exemplaryembodiments and are part of the specification. Together with the presentdescription, these drawings demonstrate and explain various principlesof this disclosure. A further understanding of the nature and advantagesof the present invention may be realized by reference to the followingdrawings. In the appended figures, similar components or features mayhave the same reference label.

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a mixer apparatus according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 1B is a top view of the mixer apparatus of FIG. 1A aligned with alongitudinal axis of a bowl of the mixer apparatus.

FIG. 1C is a front view of the mixer apparatus of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1D is a rear view of the mixer apparatus of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1E is a side view of the mixer apparatus of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the mixer apparatus of FIG. 1A with thelid and mixing tool attachments removed.

FIG. 2B is a bottom perspective view of the mixer apparatus of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C is a side view of the mixer apparatus of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2D is a front view of the mixer apparatus of FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2E is a top view of the mixer apparatus of FIG. 2A aligned with thelongitudinal axis of the bowl.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the mixer apparatus of FIG. 2A with thehowl removed.

FIG. 3B is a side view of the mixer apparatus of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C is a top view of the mixer apparatus of FIG. 3A aligned with thevertical or gravitational direction.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the mixer apparatus of FIG. 3A with theupper housing, side housing, and user interface removed.

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the mixer apparatus of FIG. 4with the lower housing removed.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the mixer apparatus of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 7 is another exploded view of the mixer apparatus of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 8 is a central side section view of the mixer apparatus of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the lower housing of the mixerapparatus of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 10 is a side section view of the lower housing of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a bowl of a mixer apparatus of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 12 is a central side section view of the bowl of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a detail top view of a central column of the bowl of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14A is a perspective view of a lid of a mixer apparatus of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 14B is a top view of the lid of FIG. 14A.

FIG. 15A is a section view of the lid of FIG. 14A taken through sectionlines 15A-15A in FIG. 14B.

FIG. 15B is a section view of the lid of FIG. 14A taken through sectionlines 15B-15B in FIG. 14B.

FIG. 15C is a section view of the lid of FIG. 14A taken through sectionlines 15C-15C in Ha 14B.

FIG. 16A is a side view of a dough hook attachment according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 16B is a bottom perspective view of the dough hook attachment ofFIG. 16A.

FIG. 17A is a perspective view of a French whisk attachment according tothe present disclosure.

FIG. 17B is a bottom perspective view of the attachment of FIG. 17A.

FIG. 17C is a partial section view of the attachment of FIG. 17A in abowl.

FIG. 18A is a top view of the attachment of FIG. 17A with an upperhousing portion removed.

FIG. 18B is a side view of the attachment of FIG. 18A.

FIG. 19A is a perspective view of a cookie whisk attachment according tothe present disclosure.

FIG. 19B is a bottom perspective view of the attachment of FIG. 19A.

FIG. 19C is a partial section view of the attachment of FIG. 19A in abowl.

FIG. 20A is a top view of the attachment of FIG. 19A with an upperhousing portion removed.

FIG. 20B is a side view of the attachment of FIG. 20A.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a motor and driveshaft assembly of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 22 is an exploded view of the motor and driveshaft assembly of FIG.21.

FIG. 23 is an exploded view of the driveshaft of FIG. 21.

FIG. 24 is a view of an upper driveshaft portion of the driveshaft ofFIG. 21.

FIG. 25 is a central section view of the upper driveshaft portion ofFIG. 24.

FIG. 26A is a view of a lower driveshaft portion of the driveshaft ofFIG. 21.

FIG. 26B is a top view of the lower driveshaft portion of FIG. 26A.

FIG. 27 is a central section view of the lower driveshaft portion ofFIG. 26A.

FIG. 28 is a central section view of the driveshaft of FIG. 21.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram of a system according to the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram of a system according to the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 31A is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of a mixerapparatus of the present disclosure.

FIG. 31B is a detail view of the mixer apparatus of FIG. 31A.

FIG. 32 is a partial central section view of the mixer apparatus of FIG.31A.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing an example method according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing an example method according to thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 35 is a block diagram of a circuit for a controller unit accordingto the present disclosure.

While the embodiments described herein are susceptible to variousmodifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have beenshown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detailherein. However, the exemplary embodiments described herein are notintended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, theinstant disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, andalternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Apparatuses, systems, and methods of the present disclosure may provideimproved and effective ways to limit or overcome drawbacks ofconventional food preparation devices.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a food mixing device and methodare provided that tilt at least the mixing container (e.g., bowl) at anangle relative to a vertical direction while mixing takes place. Theangle may be within a range of about 5 degrees to about 15 degreesoff-vertical while the base of the mixing device is resting on a flathorizontal surface. One advantage to moving the blender base and bowl toan angle of about 10 degree angle is an improved alignment of thearcuate bowl radius and the center action of the moving/rotating whisks,paddles and dough hooks. This may help to more effectively and quicklyalign and engage the mixing tools with the media being mixed in thebowl. The tilted geometry provides effective mixing due to swirling andsettling motion in the ingredients that is induced by gravity as theingredients are mixed and agitated. The tilt may also help ingredientsto more readily slide off of the angled side surfaces of the bowl andattachments so that they gather downward and toward one side of the bowlfor more thorough and efficient mixing with less unincorporated wasteingredients. By comparison, users of a conventional mixer would be morelikely have to stop mixing, scrape the sides clean of unmixedingredients, and then resume mixing in order to ensure completeintermixing.

Additionally, this arrangement and alignment facilitates mixing of smallamounts or volumes of recipe mixing materials that other conventionalmixers cannot engage due to spacing between the mixer attachments andthe bowl. For instance, a tilted-bowl mixing machine may helpingredients to settle or pool on one side of the bowl, so the depth ofthe ingredients in that side of the bowl is greater than the depth ofingredients that would be distributed evenly across the entire bottomsurface of the bowl. This is particularly effective when the howl has anannular shape similar to a bundt pan with a central column, since thedepth of the settled or pooled ingredients on one side of the annularshape is even deeper than a normal, semispherical bowl. For example,while typical mixers require three or more egg whites to make meringue,an angled mixer of the present disclosure may do so with only one eggwhite.

An angled bowl may also improve the visibility of the contents of thebowl in common settings, such as when the mixer is positioned on acountertop or shelf. A conventional mixer has a mixing container openingupward, so the user has to get closer to or farther above the top of themixer in order to see the same amount of the interior as an angled-howlmixer.

A mixer of the present disclosure may also have improvements for theconvenience and effectiveness of a lid that covers the bowl of themixer. The lid may comprise a recessed top surface configured to funnelmedia into an aperture that opens into the mixing container. Theaperture may be offset from the center of the lid, thereby allowingmedia on top of the lid to flow or fall directly into the path of themixing tools and ingredients already within the container. Additionally,the aperture may be shaped to keep ingredients from being ejected fromthe container by having a downstream side that is smaller than and/orraised higher than (i.e., has a smaller depth than) an upstream side ofthe aperture.

The lid may also be attached to the bowl in a plurality of positions,such as being attached with the aperture being selectively placed in aposition that is more convenient for right-handed use or left-handeduse. The bowl may be removably attachable to the base in a plurality ofpositions as well, so the aperture in the lid may be positioned in aplurality of positions relative to a base of the mixer by combining theplurality of positions of the lid relative to the bowl with theplurality of positions of the bowl relative to the base in order toachieve a customized aperture position. Conventional mixers tend tofavor only right-handed users and have few options for the placement ofany lid openings.

In some embodiments, the mixer may also comprise a lid sensor. The lidsensor may be positioned near the upper rim or lip of the mixingcontainer and may detect the presence of the lid when it is attached tothe mixing container. In some embodiments, the sensor may be at the endof a member extending toward the lid from the base of the mixer. Themixing machine may adjust its operation according to whether the lid isdetected, such as by turning off the drive motor if the lid is removed,improperly attached, or otherwise not detected. In one embodiment, thelid sensor may be a Reed switch configured to detect the presence of amagnet in a portion of the lid. The lid sensor may be integrated withthe mixing container, such as being located at the upper lip or rim ofthe container and having electrical leads leading down to a connectionin the base of the mixer. The sensor may alternatively be positioned ona post or other member extending upward toward the position where thelid connects to the mixing container.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a waterproof mixer is set forth.The mixer may comprise a base unit or stand on which a mixing containeris attachable. The panels or housing segments that house the motor andother electronics of the mixer may be configured to retain a gasket orother sealing element between each other so that liquids such as watercannot seep into the inside of the housing. Additionally, the motor maybe configured as a low-noise, low-heat-producing, brushless DC motorthat may drive a sealed driveshaft without the need for exhaust vents orother openings in the housing. Elements of the user interface of themixer may be touch-capable or sealed beneath a waterproof layer so thatliquids cannot penetrate the outer surface of the user interface (e.g.,seep between the edge of a button and a housing panel).

Additional aspects of the disclosure relate to detection of attachmentsthat are connected to a food mixer apparatus and correlative mixercontrol. In one example, the mixer may comprise a controller unitconfigured to detect whether a mixing tool is attached to the mixer andto control the operational settings of the motor of the mixeraccordingly, such as if no tool is attached, the motor may be disabled.Alternatively, the mixer may detect the type of attachment that isattached, and the speed or power settings of the motor may be modifiedto properly mix using that attachment type. In one embodiment, theattachments may have a magnetic element that, when connected to themixer apparatus, is detectable by a effect sensor (or othermagnet-sensitive sensor) the mixer. Alternatively, the magnetic elementmay be detected by movement of a magnet in the base of the mixer (e.g.,in the driveshaft). Each attachment may induce a different voltage viathe Hall effect sensor, so the mixer may determine which kind ofattachment (e.g., dough hook, cookie whisk, etc.) is attached. In somecases, the controller unit may disable certain speeds, power levels, ortorque levels of the motor based on the type of attachment used.

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure may concern a controlsystem for a food preparation apparatus wherein the motor may be stoppedquickly in cases of emergency. A mixing tool or agitator in a containerof the apparatus may be connected to a touch sensor, wherein if a humanhand comes into contact with the tool or agitator while the motor isoperating, a controller may quickly turn off the motor or reverse itsmotion to cause it to come to a stop. In another embodiment, thecontroller may turn off or stop the motor when a hand comes into contactwith the outer surface of the apparatus, such as a user interfacesurface or a housing of the apparatus. This may quickly limit movementof the motor in situations where a user may desire to stop the motion ofa mixing tool extending into the mixing container.

Additional aspects of mixing apparatuses and methods may include remotecontrol or programming of the mixing apparatuses. A remote controldevice such as a computing device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, or PC) maywirelessly connect to the mixing apparatus and transfer settings to theapparatus for mixing and preparing in a predetermined manner. Forexample, a user may determine a preferable mix cycle, power settings,timing, etc. for making a certain recipe, and those settings may betransferred to a controller in the apparatus to prepare that recipeaccording to those settings. In another example, a remote control devicemay comprise a scale or other measuring device that is configured tocommunicate with the controller of the apparatus to transmit weight orother measurements taken of ingredients for a desired recipe. Theapparatus may then control the mixing cycle to prepare a recipe that iscustomized to the portions added to the apparatus after they aremeasured.

Some specialized attachments are also part of the present disclosure.The attachments may be mixing tools attachable to a food mixingapparatus, such as wires, whisks, hooks, or other mixing implements.Mixing tools may comprise a planetary gear system that allows the endsof the tools to extend into a mixing container at variable depths. Inone embodiment, a mixing tool may extend downward to touch the bottom ofa mixing container under light loads, but under heavier loads, the toolmay retract upward, thereby increasing gear engagement in the planetarygear system and preserving effectiveness of the tool. The planetary gearsystem may also help make mixing more thorough by causing the planetgears to rotate around the sun gear in uneven patterns so that themixing tools are at different angles of rotation each time they completea revolution around the mixing container.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a wire whisk tool.While conventional whisks can be difficult to clean due to small cracksor crevices in the tool where the wires meet or cross over each other,presently disclosed whisk tools may not have crossing wires and maytherefore be easier to clean. The diameter of the wires in the whisktool may also be greater than a typical whisk, with a diameter betweenabout 0.09 inches and about 0.2 inches. Other conventional whisks aremade of smaller diameter wire and are therefore more prone to damage andbending. They are also not as effective at making meringue, since thesmaller diameter tends to break down the protein chains in the productbeing mixed, even though they are still small enough to whip air intothe ingredients being mixed. The present whisks may also implement aball plunger assembly to retain the whisks on the housing while stillbeing easily removed for cleaning. Helical gear assemblies in the whisksare quieter than straight gears and create thrust on the whisks pullingthem up based on the load. This may control the gap between the whisksand bottom of the bowl. When there is little load on the whisks they mayride on the bottom of the bowl, getting maximum engagement with theingredients being mixed, and when the is load increased the whisks maytravel upward from the bottom of the bowl to increase the gap betweenthe bowl and the whisk and increase the engagement between the gears.

Yet another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system forautomatic kneading using a mixing apparatus. While conventional devicesmay be able to monitor the output power of the motor of the apparatusand control the motor's settings based on this information, the presentsystems may transduce temperature of the motor to track and account forchanges in efficiency of the motor output in view of the input motorvoltage and the measured motor current to determine the output power ofthe motor. Further, in embodiments where the motor directly drives themixing tools, no gear train (and its own contributory inefficiencies)needs to be monitored or accounted for, so the calculation of theefficiency of the motor may be improved. Direct-drive mixer apparatusesalso have less power losses, so the mixing action of the motor may bemore powerful than existing devices.

The present description provides examples, and is not limiting of thescope, applicability, or configuration set forth in the claims. Thus, itwill be understood that changes may be made in the function andarrangement of elements discussed without departing from the spirit andscope of the disclosure, and various embodiments may omit, substitute,or add other procedures or components as appropriate. For instance, themethods described may be performed in an order different from thatdescribed, and various steps may be added, omitted, or combined. Also,features described with respect to certain embodiments may be combinedin other embodiments.

Mixer Apparatus

Various aspects of the present disclosure may be explained by referenceto the figures. FIGS. 1A through 10 show aspects of an exampleembodiment of a mixer apparatus 100 of the present disclosure. The mixerapparatus 100 may comprise an assembly of elements, including at least abase unit 102 (i.e., a stand, housing, or support) that is configured torest on a horizontal surface. A bowl 104 or other mixing container maybe attached to or integrated with the base unit 102, and a rotary mixingtool 106 may be positioned in the bowl 104. The rotary mixing tool 106may be operably connected to a motor 166 within the base unit 102 (seeFIG. 8), whereby the motor may provide a torque or cause rotary movementof the rotary mixing tool 106, as described in further detailhereinafter. A lid 108 may be attached to the bowl 104 to cover therotary mixing tool 106, the internal space of the bowl 104, and anyingredients or other media in the bowl 104.

The mixer apparatus 100 may be used as a food mixing device that maymix, knead, or otherwise stir and combine food ingredients or othermedia in the bowl 104 using a rotary mixing tool 106 such as, forexample, a hook, wire, or whisk. In some embodiments, the mixerapparatus 100 may be used as a blending apparatus used to shear orpulverize food ingredients or other media using a rotary mixing tool 106such as, for example, a blending blade.

The mixer apparatus 100 may have a variety of shapes and sizes. Whilethe mixer apparatus 100 shown in these figures is a relatively smallmodel configured to rest on a countertop or shelf and to hold severalquarts of material in the howl 104, other embodiments may comprise alarger or smaller apparatus, such as, for example, a machine configuredto rest on the floor and to hold many gallons of material in its mixingcontainer. Thus, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciatethat the mixer apparatus 100 may be scalable to various sizes and thatthe features and inventive elements of the mixer apparatus 100 may beimplemented in forms of various other types of mixing and blendingdevices without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentdisclosure.

The base unit 102 may be a compact unit configured to rest on ahorizontal surface such as a countertop, shelf, or tabletop. The baseunit 102 may comprise a user interface 110, a bottom housing 112, anupper housing 114, and a side housing 116. A motor 166 and electronicsunit 254 (e.g., power electronics and control electronics) may be housedwithin the base unit 102. See FIGS. 4-8. FIGS. 2A-2D show details of thebase unit 102 and bowl 104 with the lid 108 and rotary mixing tool. 106detached. FIGS. 3A-3C show the base unit 102 also isolated from the bowl104.

The bottom housing 112 may be the portion of the base unit 102 that isconfigured to rest on a flat horizontal surface. The exterior of thebottom housing 112 may comprise a rubberized layer 119 (or the bottomhousing 112 may be constructed of a rubberized material) to enhancefriction between the bottom housing 112 and other surfaces to which itcomes into contact. See FIGS. 2B and 6-8. The bottom housing 112 mayprovide a continuous surface for the bottom of the base unit 102,meaning there are no vents or unsealed openings in the bottom housingwhen the mixer apparatus 100 is fully assembled. Any elements thatextend through the bottom housing 112 may be sealed against intrusion byliquids or other materials through the bottom housing 112, such as byusing gaskets, o-rings, or other liquid-tight seals. See also FIGS.8-10.

The bottom housing 112 of the base unit 102 may include a plurality ofside recesses 120 (i.e., grip features) configured to receive fingers ofa human hand. The side recesses 120 may facilitate the grip of a userwhen the base unit 102 is lifted from a flat horizontal surface with thebottom surface 122 of the bottom housing 112 against the horizontalsurface. Additionally, because the side recesses 120 are formed in thebottom housing 112, the side recesses 120 may be rubberized foradditional grip. In some embodiments, a plurality of bumps or feet mayextend from the bottom surface 122 and the base unit 102 may rest oneach of the plurality of bumps or feet when placed on a horizontalsurface.

The bottom housing 112 may comprise a bottom surface 122. See FIGS. 2Band 7-8. The bottom surface 122 may be generally planar, such that whenthe base unit 102 rests on a horizontal surface, the bottom surface 122is parallel to the horizontal surface. A cord recess 124 may be formedin the bottom surface 122. The cord recess 124 may receive a cordwrapping guide 126. Thus, an electrical cord connected internally to thebase unit 102 may extend through the cord recess 124 and be stored bythe cord wrapping guide 126.

The side housing 116 extends peripherally around the exterior of thebase unit 102. The side housing 116 may be generally symmetrical througha longitudinal plane of the base unit. The side housing may comprise afront end 128 and a rear end 130. As indicated in FIG. 3B, the front end128 may have a shorter height (as measured from the bottom surface 122or the horizontal surface on which the base unit 102 is rested) than therear end 130. Thus, height H₁ of the front end 128 may be less thanheight H₂ of the rear end 130. This difference in and H₂ may contributeto the bowl 104 having a longitudinal axis L that is tilted relative toa vertical axis V through the base unit 102 at an angle A. See also FIG.2C. In other words, one side of the bowl 104 may be closer to a bottomsurface 122 of the mixer apparatus 100 (or a horizontal surface on whichit is positioned) than the opposite side of the bowl 104 when the bowl104 is mounted to the base unit 102. Alternatively said, a plane mayextend through a bottom surface of the bowl 104 that is positioned at anon-parallel angle relative to a vertical axis (e.g., V) through thebase unit 102.

An underside surface 150 of the bowl 104 (see FIGS. 7 and 12) may have aplane extending through it. The plane through the underside surface 150may be positioned at a non-parallel and non-perpendicular angle relativeto a vertical axis through the base unit 102 (e.g., vertical axis V ofFIG. 3). The about 10-degree tilt of the bowl 104 makes this undersidesurface 150 non-perpendicular to axis V on the mixer apparatus 100. Insome embodiments, the plane through the underside surface 150 extendsacross the bottom of the circular base portion 308 of the bowl 104indicated in FIG. 7. The underside surface 150 may be referred toalternatively as a “bottom surface” of the bowl 104. In some cases, thebottom surface 144 of the interior of the bowl 104 may intersect theplane that is non-perpendicular to axis V extending through it. If thebottom surface 144 is curved (as shown in FIG. 12), thisnon-perpendicular plane may be defined as being perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the bowl 104 or intersecting the bottom surface 144at the same depth into the bowl at a plurality of points of contactbetween the bottom surface 144 and the non-perpendicular plane. Forexample, in the pictured embodiment, such a plane would contact thecurve of the bottom surface 144 in a manner forming a circle in theplane due to the nadir of the bottom surface 144 being circular.

The angle A of FIG. 2C may be between about 5 degrees and about 15degrees, and in some typical applications (including the exampleembodiment of these figures) may particularly be about 10 degrees.Alternatively, the angle between axis L and axis V may be measured froma gravitational direction (i.e., directly vertically downward), in whichcase the angle between that direction and the axis L may measure betweenabout 165 degrees and about 175 degrees, or more particularly about 170degrees.

The bottom housing 112 may also contribute to the tilt of longitudinalaxis L, since the bottom housing 112 may comprise a tilted shaft 132extending along longitudinal axis L. The motor 166 and driveshaft 154 ofthe base unit 102 may be mounted to and extend from the tilted shaft132. See FIGS. 8-10.

The side housing 116 may be connected to the bottom housing 112. Theseam between the side and bottom housings 116, 112 may be sealed by agasket, o-ring, or fluid repelling adhesive to prevent intrusion ofliquids into the interior of the base unit 102. In some embodiments, theside housing 116 may be formed integrally as one piece with the bottomhousing 112. The upper housing 114 may be connected to the side housing116 on an upper end of the side housing 116. In some embodiments, theupper hosing 114 may be formed integrally with the side housing 116. Theupper housing 114 may also be sealed to the side housing 116, such as byuse of a gasket, o-ring, or adhesive.

The upper housing 114 may comprise a recessed portion 118 in which thebowl 104 may be received. The recessed portion 118 may comprise a bowl,ring, or nest shape configured to receive a bottom surface 150 of thebowl 104. See FIGS. 3A-3C, 7, and 8. The upper housing 114 may alsocomprise a translucent or semi-transparent material at least where theuser interface 110 is located. Thus, elements of the user interface 110may be visible through the upper housing 114, especially when featuresof the user interface 110 are backlit. In embodiments where the userinterface 110 is touch-sensitive, the upper housing 114 may comprise amaterial that is conducive to a touch interface, at least where the userinterface 110 is located, in order for the user interface 110 to betouch-accessible through the upper housing 114. For example, the upperhousing 114 may comprise a material through which a touch of a finger ofa human band may be sensed by the user interface 110. In anotherembodiment, the upper housing 114 may comprise a material that is atleast partially flexible or movable such that a user pressing into thebase unit 102 at the user interface 110 may operate buttons or resistivetouch components beneath the surface of the upper housing 114. The upperhousing 114 may therefore be a sealed surface that prevents particlesand fluids from penetrating into the interior of the base unit 102. Theupper housing 114 may also be easy to clean due to being a continuoussurface in which small debris and messes do not collect easily.

The user interface 110 may comprise a plurality of buttons or othertouch-sensitive surfaces 110-a and a display 110-b. See FIG. 1A. Theseportions of the user interface 110 may be visible through the upperhousing 114. The touch-sensitive surfaces 110-a may be used to inputinstructions for the electronics unit 254, as discussed further inconnection with FIGS. 4-8 elsewhere herein. The display 110-b maypresent information to the user such as, for example, the currentoperational settings of the mixer apparatus 100.

The upper housing 114 may be sloped. Thus, the back of the upper housing114 may be at height H₂ and the front of the upper housing 114 may be atheight H₁. This slope may approximately correspond with the tilt oflongitudinal axis L as being about perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis L of the bowl 104. Thus, the combination of the side housing 116and the upper housing 114 may create a generally ramped outer surface ofthe base unit 102 with a recessed portion 118 that is generally parallelto a plane generally defined by the top of the ramped upper housing 114.

The bowl 104 may comprise a sidewall 134 having an inner surface 136.The upper end of the bowl 104 may comprise a rim 138 (which mayalternatively be referred to as a lip or upper edge) and a plurality ofside grips 140. See FIGS. 1A-2E, 6-8, and 11-13. The inner surface 136of the bowl may be a generally ring-shaped or annular receptacle foringredients, as shown, for example, in FIG. 11, due in part to a centralcolumn 142 (which may alternatively be referred to as a central post)that extends through the bowl 104 from a bottom surface 144 of the bowl104 to a height about equal to the 138. See FIGS. 8 and 11-12. The outersurface of the central column 142 and the bottom surface 144 of the bowlmay be parts of the inner surface 136 of the bowl 104. The outer surfaceof the central column 142 may be continuous with the bottom surface 144of the bowl 104 such that the inner surface 136 forms a curve from theinner edge of the rim 138 to the top of the central column 142, as shownin FIG. 12. The bowl 104 may therefore be referred to as having a shapeof a bundt pan or a circularly-lofted U-shape.

The central column 142 may be generally hollow, with an upper centralopening 146 at the top that extends through to a lower central opening148 in an underside surface 150 of the bowl 104. The tube 152 extendingbetween the central openings 146, 148 may be configured to receive adriveshaft 154 extending from the base unit 102. The lower centralopening 148 at the bottom of the bowl 104 may comprise interlockingmembers 156 configured to engage corresponding interlocking members 158in a base portion 160 of the driveshaft 154. The interlocking members156, 158 may allow the bowl 104 to be removably retained to the baseunit 102 while the mixer apparatus 100 is used. The bowl 104 may beattached to the base portion 160 by inserting the interlocking members156 of the bowl 104 between the interlocking members 158 of the baseportion 160 and rotating the bowl 104. Because there are four differentinterlocking members 158 in the base portion 160, the bowl 104 may beattached in at least four different orientations, depending on whichinterlocking members 156 are inserted between the interlocking members158 of the base portion 160. As a result, when the lid 108 is attachedto the bowl 104 and the bowl 104 is attached to the base unit 102, thelid 108 may be in at least four different orientations relative to thebase unit 102. In other embodiments, a different number of interlockingmembers 158 may be present.

The driveshaft 154 may be configured to rotate within the central column142 of the bowl 104 without causing the bowl 104 to rotate. Detailedfeatures of the driveshaft 154 are shown in FIGS. 4-5 and 21-28. Thedriveshaft 154 may comprise a distal end 162 and a proximal end 164. Theproximal end 164 may be connected to a motor 166 in the base unit 102.See FIGS. 8 and 21-22. The distal end 162 may comprise an attachmentsurface 168 to which mixing tools may be attached. The attachmentsurface 168 in these embodiments comprises a gear surface configured toengage a corresponding gear surface of a mixing tool. See, e.g., gearsurface 170 of FIG. 23. Thus, when the driveshaft 154 rotates, it drivesmotion of the mixing tool due to engagement of these gear surfaces. Themotor 166 directly drives the driveshaft 154, so the mixer apparatus 100has less transmission efficiency loss than conventional mixerapparatuses Which use more lossy gear trains, belts, and othermechanisms to generate torque in their respective mixing tools.Additionally, the direct drive configuration of the present mixerapparatus 100 allows finer control over the movement of the mixing toolssince changes in motion of the driveshaft 154 are directly andimmediately transferred to the mixing tools. Thus, in an emergency stop,the mixing tools may potentially be stopped faster using the presentsystem than in a conventional mixer.

The attachment surface 168 may comprise a helical gear surfaceconfigured to engage a helical gear surface of a mixing tool (e.g.,rotary mixing tool 106). A helical gear surface may be beneficial as anattachment surface 168 on a driveshaft 154 for several reasons. First,it may ensure that a mixing tool is attached in the proper orientationand direction since the tool may not be threaded on to the driveshaft154 contrary to the direction of the threads. Second, the threading mayprevent the tool from being dislodged by simply pulling or pushingupward. The necessary twisting motion may therefore reduce the chancethat the tool may lift itself off of the driveshaft 154 while the mixerapparatus 100 is used. Third, the direction of threading may beconfigured to oppose the natural tendency of the rotary mixing tool 106to twist off of the driveshaft 154 as it rotates in the bowl 104. Thus,if the driveshaft 154 rotates in a counter clockwise direction (Whenviewed from above), the rotary mixing tool 106 may also turn in acounter clockwise direction in the bowl 104 and may come into contactwith ingredients being mixed. The forces applied by the ingredients thatresist movement of the rotary mixing tool 106 may tighten or otherwisehold the rotary mixing tool 106 to the attachment surface 168 by furthertightening the engagement of the helical gear surfaces. Then, whenmixing is finished, the rotary mixing tool 106 may be removable byturning the rotary mixing tool 106 in the direction of mixing motion(e.g., counter clockwise direction as viewed from above) to loosen thethreaded helical gear surfaces. In one embodiment, the mixer runs in acounterclockwise direction for mixing and clockwise to remove theattachments.

The top end of the central column 142 of the bowl 104 may comprise afluted peripheral surface 172. See FIGS. 2A, 2D, 2E, 6, and 12-13. Thefluted peripheral surface 172 may be used to engage and retain astationary mixing tool 174 that may be fitted to the fluted peripheralsurface 172. See FIGS. 1A-1C and 6-8. The stationary mixing tool 174 maybe a kneading tool that remains stationary as a baffle for ingredientsin the bowl 104 while a rotary mixing tool 106 operates around it. Forexample, the stationary mixing tool 174 may be beneficial to use whenthe rotary mixing tool 106 is a kneading hook used to knead dough. Insome embodiments, the mixer apparatus 100 may be used without thestationary mixing tool 174.

In some embodiments, the rotatory mixing tool 106 may have multiple gearengagement surfaces. One of the gear engagement surfaces may engage theattachment surface 168, and another may engage the fluted peripheralsurface 172. See FIGS. 17B and 19 a Mixing tool attachments having thisfeature are described in greater detail in connection with FIGS.17A-20B.

The motor 166 may be positioned in the base unit 102. The motor 166 maybe rotor and stator based, thereby reducing heat and noise generatedduring its operation. The motor 166 may be mounted to the tilted shaft132 of the bottom housing 112. Bearings 176, 178 may be positionedbetween the rotor of the motor 166 and the tilted shaft 132. See FIGS. 5and 8. Thus, the motor 166 may have a longitudinal axis aligned with theaxis L running through the tilted shaft 132, and the motor 166, tiltedshaft 132, driveshaft 154, bowl 104, and rotary mixing tool 106 may beconcentrically aligned along axis L. See FIG. 8.

The direct drive of the rotary mixing tool 106 via the driveshaft 154may increase efficiency of the motor 166 in applying torque to therotary mixing tool 106 and may reduce noise generated by the mixerapparatus 100 due to the absence of a belt drive, gear train, orcomparable drive system to transfer torque to the rotary mixing tool106. The direct drive configuration also allows more precise controlover the motion of the rotary mixing tool 106.

Additionally, reduced heat production by the motor 166 may allow thebase unit 102 to have a sealed exterior surface (e.g., without vents orother heat dissipation openings), thereby allowing the base unit 102 tobe waterproof. In some embodiments, the entire base unit 102 may berinsed or placed underwater without the water penetrating the base unit102. This feature may make the base unit 102 much easier to clean afteruse.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A-1E, 6-8, and 14A-15C, the lid 108 may beattached to the rim 138 of the howl 104. The lid 108 may comprise a topsurface 180. The top surface 180 may be recessed toward the bowl 104when attached to the bowl 104. An aperture 182 in the lid 108 may extendthrough the top surface 180 and open into the bowl 104 below. Aplurality of latching portions 188 may extend from the lid 108 to helpthe lid 108 stay retained to the bowl 104.

The top surface 180 of the lid 108 may form a funnel or bowl shape. SeeFIGS. 14A-15C. The aperture 182 in the lid 108 may at least partiallyopen at the bottom of the funnel or bowl shape such that material on thelid 108 (e.g., fluids) will be directed and funneled toward and throughthe aperture 182. The top surface 180 may be tilted when the lid 108 isattached to the bowl 104, and because the bowl 104 may be attached tothe base unit 102 in at least four different orientations, the aperture182 may likewise be positioned relative to the base unit 102 in at leastfour different orientations. For example, the aperture 182 may bepositioned close to the right, left, front, or back side of the baseunit 102. FIG. 1B shows a configuration where the aperture 182 is towardthe right, front side of the base unit 102, but the bowl 104 (andtherefore aperture 182) may be attached to the base unit 102 at at leastthree other positions relatively rotated 90 degrees around thelongitudinal axis L. In each of these four orientations, the funnel orbowl shape of the top surface 180 may beneficially have a form and depthD at its nadir (see FIG. 15C) sufficient to cause material on the lid tocollect into the aperture 182, even if the aperture 182 is positionedtoward the rear end 130 of the base unit 102 and is raised relative tothe bottom surface 122 of the base unit 102 (as compared to when theaperture 182 is positioned toward the front end 128 of the base unit102). Thus, the aperture 182 may be at a nadir of the top surface 180irrespective of the attached orientation of the lid 108 on the bowl 104when the bowl 104 is attached to the base unit 102 and the base unit 102lies on a horizontal surface. This kind of repositionabie aperture maybe beneficial in many instances. For example, while many conventionalmixers have top openings that are most comfortable for right-handedusers, the aperture 182 of lid 108 may allow the user to select andchange which side of the bowl 104 the aperture 182 is on, so left-handedusers may also use the mixer apparatus 100 naturally and comfortably.Additionally, some users may find the aperture 182 to be mostconveniently accessed while at the front or rear of the bowl 104, andthey can also be accommodated.

The aperture 182 may be positioned on the lid 108 at a positionlaterally offset from the longitudinal axis L or center point of thebowl 104, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 14B. Being offset from thelongitudinal axis L may allow material entering the aperture 182 to falldirectly into the path of motion of the mixing implements (e.g., wires248, 250) extending from the mixing tools 106, 174 into the bowl 104. Insome arrangements, the aperture 182 may be defined as being positioneddirectly above the bottom surface 144 of the bowl 104 (when the bowl 104rests on a flat horizontal surface), or it may be defined as beingpositioned along an axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis Lwhich intersects the bottom surface 144 of the howl 104 (irrespective ofthe rotated orientation of the bowl 104). The laterally offset aperture182 may also beneficially keep ingredients added through the lid 108from falling directly on top of the rotary mixing tool 106 where it maybe difficult to subsequently move them into the bowl 104. Thus, therotary mixing tool 106 may stay cleaner during operation than othermixer devices.

The aperture 182 in the lid 108 may also have an irregular partiallycurved shape, as indicated by FIGS. 14A-44B. A first end 184 of theaperture 182 at a first side of the aperture 182 may have a differentsize and shape from a second end 186 at a second side of the aperture182. The first end 184 may be upstream from the second end 186 of theaperture 182. This may mean that compared to the direction of rotationof the rotary mixing tool 106, the first end 184 is passed by a portionof the rotary mixing tool 106 before the second end 186 is passed ispassed by the rotary mixing tool 106. Thus, if the rotary mixing tool106 is configured to rotate counter-clockwise (when viewed from above),the first end 184 may be positioned in a clockwise direction relative tothe second end 186 and relative to the bowl 104.

The first end 184 of the aperture 182 may have a larger width W than thewidth W₂ of the second end 186 of the aperture 182. See, e.g., FIG. 14A.This irregularity of the shape of the aperture 182 may help preventingredients in the bowl 104 from being splashed or splattered outthrough the aperture 182 when the mixer apparatus 100 is operated as therotary mixing tool 106 turns counter-clockwise. Because the downstreamside of the aperture 182 (i.e., the second end 186) is smaller than theupstream side (i.e., the first end 184), there is less area throughwhich ingredients can be ejected from the bowl 104 in the direction theyare propelled by the rotary mixing tool 106. However, the first end 184may still be widened relative to the second end 186 so that additionalingredients may easily be added to the bowl 104 through the aperture182. In other embodiments, the first end 184 may be positioned deeperinto the top surface 180 (at least on average) than the second end 186(at least on average). Thus, the trajectory of material being turnedwithin the bowl 104 may not directly align with the opening of theaperture 182 in the direction of motion of the rotary mixing tool 106.

FIGS. 15A-15C show various section views of the lid 108, as indicated bythe section lines in FIG. 14B. FIG. 15A is a central side section viewof the lid 108, FIG. 15B is a central side section view perpendicular toFIG. 15A, and FIG. 15C is a section view parallel to FIG. 15B at thenadir of the top surface 180 of the lid 108.

FIG. 15A shows that the funnel recess of the top surface 180 of the lid108 may have an irregular or offset curvature with respect to thecentral axis N of the lid 108. Thus, the aperture 182 may be offset fromthe central axis N while still being at a nadir of the top surface 180.FIGS. 15B and 15C show that the top surface 180 in some section viewscomprises a centered profile with its nadir at the central axis N. FIG.15C also shows that the aperture 182 may be at this nadir. Thus, thecurvature of the top surface 180 cross sections that have offsetcurvature and cross sections that do not have offset curvature.

FIGS. 14B-15C show axes X, Y, and Z for convenient reference. In thisembodiment, sections of the top surface 180 taken through a Z-X planehave offset curvature with respect to central axis N, and sections takenthrough a Z-Y plane have central curvature. As a result, media thatfalls on the top surface 180 moves in a Y-direction toward the centralaxis N of the lid 108 and moves in an X-direction toward the offsetnadir of the lid 108. These combined funneling movements may occurirrespective of the rotated position of the lid 108 relative to the howl104.

In some embodiments, the lid 108 may comprise a pair of latchingportions 188. The latching portions 188 may extend downward from a loweredge 190 of the lid 108. The lower edge 190 of the lid 108 may comprisea flexible seal portion 192 configured to extend into the bowl 104 whenthe lid 108 is retained to the bowl 104 by the latching portions 188.See FIG. 8. The flexible seal portion 192 may contact the inner surface136 of the bowl 104 near the top rim 138 and may form a removable sealaround the inner perimeter of the rim 138 to prevent ingredients frompassing through the contacting perimeters of the lid 108 and the bowl104. Thus, when the lid 108 is coupled to the bowl 104, the flexibleseal portion 192 may be inserted into the bowl 104 adjacent to the innersurface 136. Because the flexible seal portion 192 is within the bowl104, ingredients that get onto the flexible seal portion 192 may bepredisposed to fall back into the bowl 104.

The latching portions 188 may secure the lid 108 to the howl 104 bywrapping around the rim 138 of the bowl 104 and forming a reversibleinterference between the latching portions 188 and the rim 138 inpositions where the rim 138 does not have side grips 140. The latchingportions 188 may therefore be attachable to the bowl 104 in a pluralityof positions. In this example embodiment, the lid 108 may be attachablein two positions rotated at 180 degrees relative to each other aroundthe longitudinal axis L since the latching portions 188 may be fitted toopposite ends of the bowl 104.

The latching portions 188 may comprise a flexible material configured tomold around the rim 138 of the bowl 104 when the lid 108 is pressed downonto the bowl 104. See, e.g., FIG. 8 showing the latching portions 188wrapped around the rim 138 such that some of each latching portion 188extends around an underside of the rim 138 to create a mechanicalinterlock between the lid 108 and the bowl 104. However, because thelatching portions 188 are flexible, the lid 108 may be pulled off of thebowl 104 by bending the latching portions 188 outward and pulling up onthe lid 108.

Mixing Tool Attachments

A variety of rotary mixing tools 106 may be used with the mixerapparatus 100. FIGS. 16A-16B show a dough hook attachment 202 configuredto connect to an attachment surface 168 of the driveshaft 154. Anembodiment of a dough hook attachment is shown as the mixing toolattachment 106 attached to the driveshaft 154 in FIGS. 1A-1C and 8. Thedough hook attachment 202 may comprise a plurality of dough hooks 204extending from a body portion 206. The dough hooks 204 may be shaped toknead ingredients deep in the bowl 104 of the mixer apparatus 100 whileavoiding contact with a stationary mixing tool 174 (if any) in the bowl104. The body portion 206 may comprise an inner attachment surface 208(see FIG. 16B). The inner attachment surface 208 may be configured toreceive the attachment surface 168 of the distal end 162 of thedriveshaft 154. Thus, the inner attachment surface 208 may be a helicalgear surface that can be threaded onto the threads of the attachmentsurface 168 of the driveshaft 154. The direction of the threads on theinner attachment surface 208 may drive the dough hook attachment 202downward when it is torqued by contact with ingredients in the bowl 104and may be loosened by turning the dough hook attachment 202 in theother direction to remove the attachment 202 from the driveshaft 154.

FIGS. 17A-17B show another mixing tool attachment for the mixerapparatus 100. This attachment is a. French whisk attachment 210. TheFrench whisk attachment 210 may comprise a central body 212 in which twowhisks 214 and a central gear 216 may be positioned. FIGS. 18A-18B showthe French whisk attachment 210 with the central body 212 hidden to showdetail of internal parts.

FIG. 17B shows that the central body 212 of the French whisk attachment210 may have an upper attachment surface 218. The upper attachmentsurface 218 may be configured to be threaded onto the distal end 162 ofthe driveshaft 154. Thus, when the driveshaft 154 rotates, the centralbody 212 may receive a torque, causing it to rotate as well. The centralgear 216 in the central body 212 may have a column engagement surface220 that is configured to interlock with and receive the central column142 of the bowl 104 at the fluted peripheral surface 172. Thus, thecentral gear 216 may engage the fluted peripheral surface 172 and may beheld in place thereby relative to the bowl 104 as the central body 212rotates relative to the central column 142. The central gear 216 mayalso comprise an outer gear surface 222 configured to engage the whisks214 at their respective whisk gear surfaces 224. The whisk gear surfaces224 are formed on the outer surfaces of whisk holders 226 that are eachmounted to the central body 212 of the French whisk attachment 210.

The whisk holders 226 may each translate along their respectivelongitudinal axes K₁, K₂ while being held by the central body 212against the central gear 216. The movement of the whisk holders 226along these axes K₁, K₂ may increase or decrease the engagement of theouter gear surface 222 with the whisk gear surfaces 224. Wires 228extend downward from the whisk holders 226 to be placed into a bowl 104when the French whisk attachment 210 is connected to a driveshaft 154.

While the French whisk attachment 210 is in use, the whisk holders 226may act as planet gears that rotate around the central gear 216 whichmay act as a sun gear. The number of teeth on the outer gear surface 222of the central gear 216 may not be divisible by the number of teeth onthe whisk gear surfaces 224. In other words, the number of teeth of theouter gear surface 222 may not be a multiple of the number of teeth ofthe whisk gear surfaces 224. Thus, as the whisk holders 226 revolvearound the central gear 216, the wires 228 may be at differentrotational positions relative to their rotational axes (i.e., K₁, K₂)each time the whisk holders 226 make a complete revolution around thecentral gear 216. For example, the French whisk attachment 210 has acentral gear 216 with 35 teeth, and the whisk holders 226 each have 11teeth. Therefore, it would take several revolutions of the whisk holder226 around the central gear 216 for an individual tooth of the whiskholder 226 to be positioned between two particular teeth of the centralgear 216 more than once. Because the wires 228 rotate past the samepoints in the bowl 104 at inconsistent angles, mixing quality may beimproved as the material in the bowl 104 is engaged from variousdifferent directions in each revolution.

FIGS. 19A-19B show another embodiment of a rotary mixing tool 106 of thepresent disclosure. This tool is a cookie whisk attachment 230 having acentral body 232 in which two whisks 234 and a central gear 236 may bepositioned. FIGS. 20A-20B show the cookie whisk attachment 230 with thecentral body 232 hidden.

Similar to FIG. 17B of the French whisk attachment 210, FIG. 19B showsthat the central body 232 of the cookie whisk attachment 230 may have anupper attachment surface 238. The upper attachment surface 238 may beconfigured to be threaded onto the distal end 162 of the driveshaft 154.Thus, when the driveshaft 154 rotates, the central body 232 may receivea torque, causing it to rotate as well. The central gear 236 in thecentral body 232 may have a column engagement surface 240 that isconfigured to interlock with and receive the central column 142 of thebowl 104 at the fluted peripheral surface 172. Thus, the central gear236 may engage the fluted peripheral surface 172 and may be held inplace thereby relative to the bowl 104 as the central body 232 rotatesrelative to the central column 142. The central gear 236 may alsocomprise an outer gear surface 242 configured to engage the whisks 234at their respective whisk gear surfaces 244. The whisk gear surfaces 244are formed on the outer surfaces of whisk holders 246 that are eachmounted to the central body 232 of the cookie whisk attachment 230.

The whisk holders 246 may each translate along their respectivelongitudinal axes J₁, J₂ while being held by the central body 232against the central gear 236. The movement of the whisk holders 246along these axes J₁, J₂ may increase or decrease the engagement of theouter gear surface 242 with the whisk gear surfaces 244. Wires 248, 250extend downward from the whisk holders 246 to be placed into a bowl 104when the cookie whisk attachment 230 is connected to a driveshaft 154.

While the cookie whisk attachment 230 is in use, the whisk holders 246may act as planet gears that rotate around the central gear 236 whichmay act as a sun gear. The number of teeth on the outer gear surface 242of the central gear 236 may not be divisible by the number of teeth onthe whisk gear surfaces 244. In other words, the number of teeth of theouter gear surface 242 may not be a multiple of the number of teeth ofthe whisk gear surfaces 244. Thus, as the whisk holders 246 revolvearound the central gear 236, the wires 248, 250 may be at differentrotational positions relative to their rotational axes (i.e., K₁, K₂)each time the whisk holders 246 make a complete revolution around thecentral gear 236. For example, the cookie whisk attachment 230 has acentral gear 236 with 35 teeth, and the whisk holders 246 each have 11teeth. Therefore, it would take several revolutions of the whisk holder246 around the central gear 236 for an individual tooth of the whiskholder 246 to be positioned between two particular teeth of the centralgear 236 more than once. Because the wires 248, 250 rotate past the samepoints in the bowl 104 at inconsistent angles, mixing quality may beimproved as the material in the bowl 104 is engaged from variousdifferent directions in each revolution.

The wires 228, 248, 250 of the whisk attachments 210, 230 may belaterally separable from each other at their distal ends, as indicatedby the arrows labeled S in FIGS. 17B and 19B. Thus, there may be a spacebetween the distal ends 252 and/or the distal ends 252 may be reversibly(e.g., elastically) pulled apart. As a result, the wires 228, 248, 250may be easier to clean than conventional whisks that have wires attachedto each other at their distal ends since the spaces and surfaces betweenthe wires 228, 248, 250 may be accessed more easily than in conventionalwhisks when they are spread apart. The surfaces between the wires 228,248, 250 may also be more durable and rust resistant since debris,water, and sticky materials can be rinsed or wiped away more easily.

The wires 228, 248, 250 may also be referred to as not crossing orintersecting each other. Thus, the distal ends of the wires 228, 248,250 may be laterally adjacent to each other or touching each otherlaterally but not overlapping along the longitudinal axes J₁, J₂, K₁, K₂of the whisks.

Wires 228, 248, 250 of the whisk attachments 210, 230 may have adiameter between about 0.09 inches and about 0.2 inches. Otherconventional whisks typically have smaller diameters and are thereforemore prone to bending, breaking, cracking, and other undesirableresults. When making certain recipes, a smaller diameter wire may beless effective at its mixing task as well. For example, when making ameringue, wires having a diameter less than the diameter of the wires228, 248, 250 of the whisk attachments 210, 230 tend to break downprotein chains in the product being mixed, even though they may stillwhip air into the ingredients. A larger diameter wire may still whip aireffectively, but may cause less damage to the protein chains, resultingin a higher quality result.

Each of the whisk attachments 210, 230 may have whisk holders 226, 246capable of translation along their longitudinal axes K₁, K₂, J₁, J₂ withrespect to the central bodies 212, 232. Thus, when the wires 228, 248,250 are placed under load, such as a load applied along a longitudinalaxis K₁, K₂, J₁, J₂, the helical gear surfaces (i.e., outer gearsurfaces 222, 242 and whisk gear surfaces 224, 244) may increaseengagement as the whisk holders 226, 246 are pulled generally upwardalong the longitudinal axes K₁, K₂, J₁, J₂. When load is relieved, thehelical gear surfaces may decrease engagement and the whisk holders 226,246 may move downward. This movement along the longitudinal axes K₁, K₂,J₁, J₂ may be referred to a float engagement or variable engagement ofthe gears in the whisk attachments 210, 230 since the engagement of thewhisk holders 226, 246 with the central gears 222, 242 is variable andthe whisk holders 226, 246 can “float” up and down along thelongitudinal axes K₁, K₂, J₁, J₂. In some cases, the velocity oracceleration of movement of the whisk holders 226, 246 relative to thecentral gears 222, 242 may affect the position of the Whisk holders 226,246 relative to the central gears 222, 242.

FIGS. 17C and 19C show ball plunger rods 243 along which the whiskholders 226, 246 translate. The biased ball plungers 245 of the rods 243may allow the whisk holders 226, 246 to be removably attached to thecentral bodies 212, 232 by the ball plungers 245 retracting into therods 243 when sufficient force is applied to pull off the whisk holders226, 246. This may make it easier to clean the whisks 214, 234 separatefrom the rest of the mixing tool.

The ability to translate and change gear engagement may improve theability of the whisk attachments 210, 230 to mix small amounts of mediain a bowl. In some embodiments, the rotary mixing tool 106 may beconfigured to extend into the bowl 104 and touch the bottom surface 144of the bowl 104 when under light loads. The whisk attachment 210, 230may therefore scrape or ride along the bottom surface 144 as it rotatesaround the central column 142. As additional load is applied, the whiskholders 226, 246 may move away from the bottom surface 144, therebyreducing the load on the wires 228, 248, 250 while simultaneouslyincreasing the ability of the whisk holders 226, 246 to keep mixing dueto the increase in gear engagement. Thus, when small amounts ofingredients are in the bowl 104, the wires 228, 248, 250 may effectivelycontact and mix those ingredients while still being able to handlelarger, less delicate tasks. For example, the whisk attachments 210, 230may make a meringue from just one egg white in the bowl 104 due to thedeep extension and bottom-touching contact of the wires 228, 248, 250.FIGS. 17C and 19C also show how the wires 228, 248, 250 may extend intoa bowl 104 to contact a bottom surface 144 of the bowl 104. Ifsufficient force is applied to the whisks, they may retract along therods 243 upward into the central bodies 212, 232, thereby alsoincreasing the engagement of the gears in the central bodies 212, 232.

The helical gear surfaces (i.e., outer gear surfaces 222, 242 and whiskgear surfaces 224, 244) may also be advantageous in reducing the noisegenerated by the gears as compared to conventional straight gears.

Tool Attachment Detection and Control

The base unit 102 may house an electronics unit 254. See FIGS. 4-8. Theelectronics unit 254 may comprise power electronics and controlelectronics. The power electronics may provide power to the motor 166and user interface 110. The control electronics may receive informationvia sensors and the user interface 110 to control the operation of themixer apparatus 100. Control electronics may include a computer systemand be referred to as a control unit. See also FIG. 35 and relateddescription below. The electronics unit 254 may be wired to providepower and control signals to the motor 166 and other electronic elementsdisclosed herein. Such wiring is omitted from the figures.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 21-22, the motor 166 may be directly connectedwith the driveshaft 154 at base portion 160. The driveshaft 154 may beconnected to a rotor 256 of the motor 166 at a motor engagement surface258 at the proximal end 164 of the driveshaft 154 and a driveshaftengagement surface 260 of the rotor 256. The driveshaft 154 may beinsertable into the rotor 256 at the driveshaft engagement surface 260.The base portion 160 of the driveshaft 154 may extend around thedriveshaft 154 and may be configured to remain stationary as thedriveshaft 154 rotates. In some embodiments, the base portion 160 isattached to the upper housing 114 to remain still relative to thedriveshaft 154. The rotor 256 may be driven by a stator 262 in the motor166. Using a rotor-stator type motor 166, the motor is brushless, andthe mixer apparatus 100 may have reduced heat and noise generation. Thismay allow the base unit 102 to be waterproofed and quiet in operationsince no vents for heated air may be necessary for its operation.

In some embodiments, the stator 262 may be controlled by the electronicsunit 254 to turn the rotor 256 in two directions e.g., clockwise andcounter clockwise). Generally, the electronics unit 254 may drive themotor 166 in a primary direction for mixing purposes, but in some cases,such as during emergencies or when signals indicating a need to “stop”are detected by the electronics unit 254, the motor 166 may be driven inthe opposite direction to quickly stop rotation. This may be referred toas reverse braking of the motor 166. In other situations, a mixing toolattachment 106 may become stuck on the driveshaft 154, and the normaldirection of rotation of the motor 166 may be reversed to help the userremove the mixing tool attachment 106. While a rotor-stator type motor166 is shown in these figures, it will be appreciated that other typesof motors such as brush-based motor may be used in the base unit 102.

Referring now to FIGS. 23-28, various features of the driveshaft 154 areshown in detail. The driveshaft 154 may comprise an upper driveshaft 264and a lower driveshaft 266 that are configured to be connected to eachother. See FIGS. 23 and 28. As shown in the exploded view of FIG. 23 andsection view of FIG. 28, the interior of the driveshaft 154 may comprisea magnet carrier 268 configured to carry two magnets 270. In somearrangements, the magnet carrier 268 may comprise a solid shaft withmagnets 270 connected to opposite ends, or may comprise a single, largemagnet extending along the length of the magnet carrier 268. It may bebeneficial, however, to have two magnets 270 in the magnet carrier 268so that one may be close to the distal end 162 of the driveshaft 154 andone may be close to the proximal end 164 of the driveshaft 154 withoutincreasing the weight or cost of the magnets 270 by having a large,solid magnet.

The magnet carrier 268 may be biased by a biasing member 272 (e.g., aspring) relative to the lower driveshaft 266 due to contact between thebiasing member 272, the lower driveshaft 266, and the nodes 274extending peripherally from the magnet carrier 268. Thus, the magnetcarrier 268 may translate axially through a central chamber 276 formedwithin the upper driveshaft 264 and lower driveshaft 266.

FIG. 25 shows a section view of the upper driveshaft 264 of FIG. 24. Thecentral chamber 276 may comprise a plurality of guide members 278 tohelp retain and align the magnet carrier 268 within the driveshaft 154.FIGS. 26B and 27 also show guide members 280 of the lower driveshaft 266that may be used to guide the magnet carrier 268. The magnet carrier 268is shown positioned within the guide members 278, 280 in FIG. 28. Asshown in FIG. 26B, which is a top view of the lower driveshaft 266, theguide members 280 may be circumferentially spaced around the centralchamber 276 to support the magnet carrier 268 from multiple directions.Guide members 278 of the upper driveshaft 264 may also becircumferentially arranged. FIGS. 26B and 27 also show a retainingsurface 282 within the central chamber 276 that is configured to act asa support and retaining surface for the biasing member 272 when thedriveshaft 154 is assembled. See also FIG. 28.

FIG. 28 is a section view of the driveshaft 154 that illustrates theconnection and assembly of the internal portions of the driveshaft 154.Within the central chamber 276, the magnet carrier 268 may translateaxially when a magnetic field is presented at the distal end 162 orproximal end 164 of the driveshaft 154 due to the magnets 270 which arepositioned proximate those respective ends 162, 164. The magnet carrier268 is shown in a neutral position in FIG. 28, but, depending on thepolarity of the magnets 270 in the magnet carrier 268, the magnetcarrier 268 may be attracted distally (i.e., toward the distal end 162)or repelled proximally (i.e., toward the proximal end 164) when themagnetic field is introduced at the distal end 162. This movement of themagnet carrier 268 may compress or expand the biasing member 272. Whenthe magnetic field is removed, the biasing member 272 may bring themagnet carrier 268 back to the neutral position.

Various mixing tool attachments (e.g., dough hook attachment 202, Frenchwhisk attachment 210, and cookie whisk attachment 230) may comprise amagnetic portion. For example, the mixing tool attachments may comprisea magnetic body portion (e.g., body portion 206, central body 212, orcentral body 232), a magnet attached to the mixing tool attachment(e.g., on or within a driveshaft engagement surface 284 in FIGS. 16B,17B, and 19B) or in another element of the mixing tool attachment (e.g.,the whisk holders 226, 246 or central gears 216, 236). Mixing toolattachments with a magnetic portion may induce a magnetic field throughthe driveshaft 154 when the attachments are connected to the distal end162 of the driveshaft 154, and this magnetic field may induce movementof the magnet carrier 268 within the driveshaft 154.

The electronics unit 254 may be connected to a magnetically-sensitivesensor in the base unit 102. The Hall effect sensor 286 shown in FIGS.8-10 and 22 is one example of a magnetically-sensitive sensor in themixer apparatus 100. The Hall effect sensor 286 may be positioned at thetop of the tilted shaft 132 of the lower housing 112 below thedriveshaft 154 along longitudinal axis L. When the magnet carrier 268moves in the driveshaft 154, the Hall effect sensor 286 may transducethe change in the magnetic field of the magnets 270 in the magnetcarrier 268. Thus, the Hall effect sensor 286 may be used to detectattachments connected to the driveshaft 154. The change in the magneticfield may correlate with a distance between the magnet carrier 268 andthe Hall effect sensor 286 or a movement of the magnet carrier 268, inwhich case the Hall effect sensor 286 readings may be used to determinethe distance between at least one magnet 270 and the Hall effect sensor286.

Each of the various mixing tool attachments that are attachable to thedriveshaft 154 (e.g., dough hook attachment 202, French whisk attachment210, and cookie whisk attachment 230) may comprise a magnetic portionthat has different strength or is configured to be positioned at adifferent distance from the driveshaft 154 (and magnets 270) when eachattachment is connected. This means that the Hall effect sensor 286 maydetect a different magnetic field for each different mixing toolattachment due to their unique effects on the movement and magneticfield-induced positioning of the magnet carrier 268 in the driveshaft154.

As a result, the electronics unit 254 may operate differently based onwhich mixing tool attachment is connected to the driveshaft 154. Morepower may be required to turn a kneading hook, so the electronics unit254 may increase power settings or other operational settings for themotor 166 in order to facilitate better kneading when a hook attachmentis detected, and the electronics unit 254 may set the motor 166 at lesspower when a thin wire beater or whisk attachment is in place (e.g., towhip cream or make a meringue). Thus, the type of attachment detectedvia the magnetic sensor may directly affect the control settings for themotor 166 made by the electronics unit 254. If no attachment isdetected, the electronics unit 254 may set the mixer apparatus 100 to apredetermined setting, such as, for example, a setting preventingrotation of the driveshaft 154 (correlating with a scenario where nomixing tool is attached) or a default power and speed setting(correlating with a scenario where a default attachment does not have amagnetic element). In some embodiments, the electronics unit 254 mayalso output a signal to the user interface 110 indicating whichattachment is detected, that no attachment is detected, and/or that themotor 166 is disabled.

According to a related method embodiment, a mixer apparatus may beprovided having a magnetic element in a mixing tool attachment that isconfigured to be attached to a mixing tool attachment point of the mixerapparatus. A sensor in the mixer apparatus may detect a magnetic fieldproduced by the magnetic element when the mixing tool attachment isattached to the mixing tool attachment point. Control electronics of themixer apparatus may adjust operational settings of the mixer apparatus(e.g., motor speed or power) according to the magnetic field detected.In some embodiments, the operational settings may comprise turning offthe mixer (e.g., when a mixing tool attachment is removed and asufficient magnetic field is not detected). In some embodiments, thecontrol electronics may differentiate between different mixing toolsbased on the different strength or position of the magnetic elements (oran absence thereof) in the different mixing tools.

The type of mixing tool attachment detected may affect the operationalsettings of the motor 166. The electronics unit 254 may set upper and/orlower limits for the operation of certain mixing tool attachments toavoid damage to the mixing tool attachments or other components of themixer apparatus 100. For example, if a strong, thick tool attachment isconnected to the motor 166 such as a dough kneading hook, the powersettings available to the user to control the hook's movement maycomprise a high upper power limit so that the motor 166 can provide highlevels of torque to the hook. If a more delicate tool is connected tothe motor 166 such as a French whisk, the power settings available maycomprise a lower upper power limit so that the French whisk is notimproperly used with a high power setting in a material that could bendor otherwise damage the wires in the whisk. Similarly, if the tool is ahook, an upper limit on speed of the rotation of the hook may be loweras compared to a whisk since in many applications the hook may be morebeneficially used at lower rotational velocity than a whisk.

In another example, limits on the duration of operation of the motor 166may be set according to which tool is detected on the mixer apparatus100. For example, if a kneading hook is detected, the electronics unit254 may control the motor 166 to automatically shut off after apredetermined length of time that corresponds with a preferable lengthof kneading time for certain kinds of dough. If a whisk is detected, theshut-off time may be adjusted or disabled, as appropriate.

In yet another example, the user may select a recipe to create using theuser interface 110 or another input device. The recipe may require acertain kind of mixing tool attachment to create, so the electronicsunit 254 may prevent movement of the motor 166 to complete the steps ofthat recipe until an appropriate attachment is detected. Similarly, somerecipes may have steps that require different kinds of tool attachmentsfor each step. The control electronics of the electronics unit 254 maytherefore check whether the appropriate attachment is detected at eachstep of the process so that the wrong tool is not used at the wrongtime.

Fast-Stop Features

In some embodiments the electronics unit 254 may be linked to a contactsensor 288 disposed on the mixer apparatus 100. FIG. 29 is a blockdiagram of a mixer apparatus 290 having a plurality of contact sensors288-a, 288-b. As shown in FIG. 29, a contact sensor 288-a may bepositioned at the user interface 110 or a contact sensor 288-b may bepositioned at the rotary mixing tool 106 (i.e., a mixing member) and maybe in electronic communication with the electronics unit 254. Theelectronics unit 254 may be in control communication with the motor 166,which is in turn configured to rotate the rotary mixing tool 106. Insome arrangements the contact sensor 288-a may detect contact of a handat the user interface 110, and in some configurations the contact sensor288-a may detect contact anywhere on the upper housing 114 of the mixerapparatus.

According to a method aspect of the present disclosure, the electronicsunit 254 may control the motor 166 based on signals transduced by acontact sensor 288-a, 288-b. The sensors 288-a, 288-b may betouch-sensitive and may therefore detect the touch of a human hand on atleast a portion of the user interface 110 or the rotary mixing tool 106.In one example embodiment, the motor 166 may drive the rotary mixingtool 106 to rotate until one of the sensors 288-a, 288-b are contactedby a human hand. Contact detection by contact sensor 288-a may indicatethat the user wishes to initiate an emergency stop of the motor 166, andcontact detection by contact sensor 288-b may indicate that a hand iswithin the bowl 104 and therefore that the movement of the mixing tool106 should be stopped, at least until the hand is removed. When a handis detected by a contact sensor 288-a, 288-b, the electronics unit 254may power down or brake the motor 166. One way the motor 166 may brakeis by the electronics unit 254 quickly reversing the motor 166.Typically, this type of braking will stop the motor 166 within one thirdof a revolution (at least for the rotor-stator type motor describedelsewhere herein).

In some embodiments, only one of the contact sensors 288-a, 288-b may beimplemented in the mixer apparatus 100. Thus, only one surface of theupper housing 114, user interface 110, or rotary mixing tool 106 may betouch-sensitive. In some embodiments, the rotary mixing tool 106 maycomprise a mixing implement (e.g., a wire or hook) that extends into thebowl 104, and the contact sensor 288-b may transduce human contact withany part of the mixing implement.

Some situations may require a fast stop of the mixer apparatus 100 whenthe motor or mixing tool attachments are hard jammed, stalled, orexperience significant interference such as, for example, when aperson's arm or hand is positioned in the bowl or the media being mixedis too dense or heavy for the motor to correctly operate. Conventionalmixers cannot fast stop in this manner, so their motors will try tocontinue to operate under these conditions until manually turned off orthere is a mechanical failure (e.g., overheating). Embodiments of themixer apparatus 100 of the present disclosure may′ use a control unit tomonitor, calculate, or measure the output power of the motor to detectthe occurrence of a hard jam, stall, or significant interference withthe motion of the motor and/or mixing tool attachments. Upon detectionof one of these conditions, the control unit may stop or brake the motorin an attempt to limit or prevent damage to the mixer or other unwantedor dangerous conditions.

Automatic Control Methods

Conventional mixer appliances may be used to knead doughs automaticallyby monitoring the loading profile that the dough places on the electricmotor during the kneading cycle. During the “development” stage of thedough, the power required to mix the dough at a constant speed graduallyincreases. As the dough transitions from the “development” stage to the“let-down” stage, the power required to continue to mix the dough at aconstant speed begins to decrease. For best bread making results, thekneading process should terminate as the bread transitions from the“development” to “let-down” stage.

One of the most accurate and ideal methods to observe the loadingprofile of the dough is to monitor the output power of the motor. Thismay be achieved by using a torque transducer that couples the motor tothe kneading arm and gives an accurate picture of the loading profileinduced by the transition from the “development” stage to “let-down”stage of the dough. However, a torque transducer in a consumer appliancelike a food processor is impractical due to cost and size.

Conventional mixers monitor the input voltage (i.e., the power) to theelectric motor as a means to observing the loading profile of the dough,but this method has shortcomings. The input power to the motor does notequal output power from the motor because of losses in the motor (i.e.,due to imperfect motor efficiency, which is the ratio of the outputpower to the input power). Unfortunately, the motor efficiency changesas the motor temperature changes, so output power is not always easilydetermined using known base motor efficiency values. For example, themotor temperature rises as the mixer completes a kneading cycle. Thischange in motor efficiency during the kneading cycle can skew theresults of the observed loading profile.

To overcome this deficiency, a mixer 292 of the present disclosure mayimplement a temperature sensor 294 to monitor the temperature of a mixermotor 296. See FIG. 30. The motor temperature information may bereadable by a controller unit 298 (e.g., electronics unit 254) to beused to compensate for the changing efficiency of the motor 296. Thismay provide a more accurate calculation of the motor output power due toremoving unknown changes to the motor efficiency in an observed loadingprofile. See also FIG. 34 and related description below.

Thus, the controller unit 298 may engage the motor 296 with thetemperature sensor 294 tracking the temperature of the motor 296. Thecontroller unit 298 may monitor the temperature of the motor 296 usingthe temperature sensor 294 while the motor 296 operates. Over time, theoutput power of the motor 296 may be determined by the controller unit298 by referencing information about the motor's efficiency over a rangeof temperatures. By tracking the motor's efficiency more accurately, theoutput power of the motor 296 that is delivered to a mixing tool may becontrolled to be more consistent as the motor 296 heats up and becomesless efficient. Additionally, the controller unit 298 may track theinput motor voltage and the measured motor current to calculate theoutput power of the motor 296. This calculated output power may be usedto observe the loading profile of dough being mixed in real time. Thiscalculated output power (with temperature compensation) may typically bemore accurate than using only the input motor voltage.

Also, in a mixer apparatus having a direct drive for the mixing toolattachments (e.g., mixer apparatus 100), no gear train is positionedbetween the motor and the kneading arm. Much like an electric motor, agear train has an efficiency that may also change with time. Theelimination of the gear train in the present mixer apparatuses mayenhance their ability to calculate a more accurate output power becausethe direct drive configuration means there are less changing variablesin the system.

List Detection and Control

In some embodiments, the mixer apparatus 100 may comprise a liddetection system 300. As shown in FIGS. 31A-31B, the lid detectionsystem may comprise a magnetic element 302 embedded in or attached to alatching portion 188 of the lid 108 of the mixer apparatus 100. One ormore of the latching portions 188 may have a magnetic element 302. Themagnetic elements 302 may produce a magnetic field that can be sensed bya switch 304 positioned on a switch post 306. For example, the switch304 may be a magnetically-sensitive Reed switch. The switch post 306 maybe referred to as a lid detection portion of the base unit 102. In somearrangements, the switch post 306 may comprise an arm or wing shapeextending toward the top of the bowl 104 from the base unit 102.

When a lid 108 having magnetic elements 302 is attached to the bowl 104in a locked orientation, the switch 304 may trigger so that the presenceof the lid 108 may be detected by a control unit in the mixer apparatus100 (e.g., as part of the electronics unit 254 in the base unit 102).The locked orientation may require the magnetic element 302 to be withina predetermined distance from the switch 304.

The presence or absence of the lid 108 may affect the operation of themixer apparatus 100 by the electronics unit 254. For example, the motor166 and/or rotary mixing tool 106 may be prevented from rotation if thelid 108 is not detected by the switch 304. Alternatively, a message orwarning may be displayed via an output display or indicator element inthe user interface 110. If the lid 108 is detected, the mixer apparatus100 may operate normally. Magnetic elements 302 may be positioned in aplurality of latching portions 188 of the lid 108 so that the presenceof the lid 108 may be detected in a plurality of different bowl-attachedpositions of the lid 108. FIG. 31B shows a detailed view of the post 306and magnetic element 302, and FIG. 32 shows a side section view of thepost 306, an embedded magnetic element 302, and switch 304. In someembodiments, the lid 108 may be considered to be in a locked orientationwhen the latching portions 188 are engaged around the rim 138 of the lidor when the lid 108 is otherwise removably attached to the bowl 104and/or unable to be freely withdrawn from the bowl by lateral movementor movement along the longitudinal axis L of the bowl 104.

In some embodiments, the lid detection system 300 may comprise a switch304 that is integrated with the bowl 104. For example, the switch 304may be embedded in or near the rim 138 of the bowl 104. Electrical leadsfor the switch 304 may extend down the bowl to an electrical contactbetween the base unit 102 and the bowl 104 (e.g., at the circular baseportion 308 of the bowl 104 as shown in FIG. The electrical contact maybeneficially circumferentially extend around the base of the bowl 104 sothat the contact may be received by the base unit 102 irrespective ofthe rotated position of the bowl 104.

In other embodiments, the switch 304 may comprise a non-magnetic sensorconfigured to detect the presence or absence of the lid 108. Forexample, the sensor may be an optical sensor configured to opticallydetect the lid 108 or a pressure switch that is triggered by theattachment of the lid 108 to the bowl 104.

Various structures and apparatuses of the present disclosure exemplifyelements and features of methods of the present disclosure. FIG. 33shows a flowchart indicating an example embodiment of a method 310 forimproving mixture of ingredients in a food mixing machine. The method310 may comprise providing a food mixing machine having a base unit, abowl attached to the base unit, a mixing tool positioned in the bowl,and a motor configured to rotate the mixing tool relative to the bowl,wherein the bowl has a longitudinal axis. See block 312. The method 310may further comprise positioning the base unit of the food mixingmachine on a horizontal surface with the longitudinal axis of the bowlbeing non-perpendicular to the horizontal surface and inserting aningredient into the bowl, then mixing the ingredient by rotating themixing tool using the motor. See blocks 314, 316, and 318.

In this method 310, the ingredient may be gravitationally biased tosettle toward one side of the bowl. The mixing tool may be removablyattached to the base unit. The method 310 may further comprise attachingthe mixing tool to a drive shaft, the drive shaft being rotatable by themotor. The mixing tool may be rotated upon attachment to or detachmentfrom the base unit. Positioning the base unit may comprise positioningthe longitudinal axis of the bowl at an angle between about 75 and about85 degrees relative to the horizontal surface. Positioning the base unitmay comprise placing a bottom surface of the base unit on the horizontalsurface. Positioning the base unit may comprise resting a plurality offeet of the base unit on the horizontal surface. The mixing tool may beconfigured to touch a bottom surface of the bowl while mixing theingredient. A drive shaft of the food mixing machine may be insertedthrough the bowl.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating another method 320 according to thepresent disclosure. This method 320 may be used to control a motor(e.g., motor 166) based on the input power and temperature of the motor.The method may comprise providing a mixer apparatus having a motorconnected to a mixing tool attachment, an input power sensor for themotor, and a temperature sensor for the motor, wherein the mixing toolattachment extends into a mixing container, as shown in block 322. Aninput power sensor may comprise an input voltage or current sensor, forexample. As shown in block 324, the method 320 may also includeoperating the motor to rotate the mixing tool attachment. While themotor is operating, the method may include measuring the temperature ofthe motor using the temperature sensor and measuring the input power ofthe motor using the input power sensor while the motor is operating,then calculating the output power of the motor using the input power andthe temperature of the motor. See blocks 326, 328, and 330. The methodmay further comprise adjusting operational settings of the motor basedon the calculated output power, as shown in block 332. Operationalsettings may be the input power settings of the motor. The calculatedoutput power may, for instance, indicate a certain rate of movement ofthe mixing tool attachment, and if the output power drops too low, theoperational settings of the motor may be turned up to maintain a desiredoutput power level.

Remote Devices and Wireless Control Systems

Some embodiments of the mixer apparatus 100 may have a controller unitconfigured to control an operational setting of the motor 166. Thecontroller unit may be incorporated as part of the electronics unit 254of the mixer apparatus 100 along with a wireless communication interfacethat is connected to the controller unit. The wireless communicationinterface may comprise an interface for wireless communications such asWi-Fi, BLUETOOTH®, ZIGBEE®, a cellular data network (e.g., 3G orLong-Term Evolution (LTE)), or similar wireless communications thatpermit communication of data to the electronics unit 254 from anotherdevice. The controller unit may receive information from a deviceexternal to the mixer apparatus 100 or that is part of the mixerapparatus 100. The information received may include operationalparameters for the motor. The operational parameters may includeinformation such as, for example, a motor power level, a targetrotational velocity of the motor or mixing tool attachment, a mixingduration, and other values that may be implemented in operating themotor 166. In an example embodiment, the operational parameters maycomprise a plurality of steps of a process to be executed by the controlunit when controlling the operation of the motor 166. For instance, ifthe user is using the mixer apparatus 100 to prepare a specific recipe,the steps necessary for the mixer apparatus 100 to complete the recipemay be the operational parameters received by the controller unit viathe wireless interface. Such steps may include, for example, a firstmixing speed setting at a first power level for the motor for a firstduration of time, followed by a second mixing speed setting at a secondpower level for the motor for a second duration of time. At least oneoperational setting may include stopping the movement of the motor 166and/or waiting for input via the user interface 110 or from the otherdevice before moving on to an additional step.

Remote devices used to communicate with the wireless communicationinterface of the electronics unit 254 may comprise computing devicesthat are configured with their own wireless communication interfaces andare compatible with the wireless communication interface of theelectronics unit 254. A remote device may, for example, comprise aportable wireless communications device such as a smartphone, tablet, orother wireless-enabled device. Operational parameters may be obtained byor input into the wireless communications device via a user interface onthe remote device and then transmitted to the mixer apparatus 100 viathe wireless communication interface of the remote device. For example,a mixer speed setting and duration may be programmed into a smartphonedevice and then transmitted to the mixer apparatus 100. In some cases,the operational parameters may be predetermined and obtained by theremote device, such as by being downloaded from a remote server (e.g.,via a connection to the Internet) to the remote device. In otherembodiments, the electronics unit 254 may use its own wirelessconnection to link to a remote server and to obtain information. Inthese embodiments, a “portable” device may comprise a device configuredand sized in a manner that allows it to be carried by an average person.

In another embodiment, the remote control device may be a user interfacepositioned in the base unit 102 of the mixer apparatus. The userinterface (e.g., user interface 110) may by touch-sensitive to transduceuser input by touch. That user interface may be wirelessly connected tothe electronics unit 254 or may be directly wired to the electronicsunit 254.

Thus, preprogrammed settings for the mixer apparatus 100 may be obtainedand sent to the mixer apparatus 100 according to a plurality of recipesor other instructions. In this manner, a user may obtain mixerparameters that are provided by third parties and then execute thoseparameters without having to test or guess which parameters will producethe best results for the recipe being prepared by the mixer apparatus100. In an example embodiment, if a recipe calls for flour to be addedas the first ingredient into the bowl 104, the first motor rotationalvelocity may be a low value that ramps up slowly so as to not fluff upand eject flour from the bowl 104 due to an initial jerking movement ofthe mixing tool attachment 106. Then, after butter or another sticky orfluid ingredient is added to the mix, the velocity may be increased.Because these settings are obtained externally and provided to the mixerapparatus 100 rather than as the result of trial-and-error, mistakes inmaking the recipe may be more easily avoided. In some arrangements, theuser may register the status of each step being performed as the mixerapparatus 100 is used to complete a process in order to direct the mixerapparatus 100 to change settings.

In one embodiment, the remote device may comprise a measuring device,such as a weight scale, humidity measurement device, thermometer, orother transducer. A measuring device may be used to measure a physicalcharacteristics of ingredients that will be added to the mixer apparatus100 and then to communicate that data (or associated data) to theelectronics unit 254 of the mixer apparatus 100. For example, a user mayweigh a quantity of flour on an electronic scale, and the scale maymeasure the weight of the flour and transmit that value to the mixerapparatus 100. The mixer apparatus 100 may then calculate motoroperational parameters and/or preferred mixing tool attachments to mixthat quantity of flour when it is combined with eggs or otheringredients in the bowl 104. In another example, the remote device maybe a food thermometer that determines the temperature of butter to beadded to the bowl 104 and provides a motor power setting to theelectronics unit 254 corresponding with whether the butter will berunny, soft, pliable, or hard in the bowl 104. Thus, the remote devicemay transduce a physical characteristic of an ingredient and thentransfer operational settings to the electronics unit 254 via thewireless communications interface. The remote measuring device maytransmit instructions to the mixer apparatus 100 rather than, or inaddition to, measurement data.

FIG. 35 depicts a block, diagram of a computer system 400 suitable forimplementing aspects of the present systems and methods. The computersystem 400 may be part of the electronics unit 254 of the presentdisclosure. Computer system 400 includes a bus 405 which interconnectsmajor subsystems of computer system 400, such as a central processor410, a system memory 415 (typically RAM, but which may also include ROM,flash RAM, or the like), an input/output controller 420, an externalaudio device, such as a speaker system 425 via an audio output interface430, an external device, such as a display screen 435 via displayadapter 440, an input device 445 (e.g., a keyboard, touchscreen, etc.)(interfaced, with an input controller 450), a sensor 455 (interfacedwith a sensor controller 460), one or more universal serial bus (USB)device 465 (interfaced with a USB controller 460), and a storageinterface 480 linking to a fixed disk 475. A network interface 485 isalso included and coupled directly′ to bus 405.

Bus 405 allows data communication between central processor 410 andsystem memory 415, which may include read-only memory (ROM) or flashmemory (neither shown), and random access memory (RAM) (not shown), aspreviously noted. The RAM is generally the main memory into which theoperating system and application programs are loaded. The ROM or flashmemory can contain, among other code, the Basic Input-Output system(BIOS) which controls basic hardware operation such as the interactionwith peripheral components or devices. For example, a control module 402which may implement the present systems and methods may be stored withinthe system memory 415. Control module 402 may comprise instructions toimplement steps of methods disclosed herein, such as, for example, themethods of FIGS. 33-34 and other methods used to control the motor 166and other electronics of a mixer apparatus 100. Applications residentwith computer system 400 are generally stored on and accessed via a nontransitory computer readable medium, such as a hard disk drive (e.g.,fixed disk 475), an optical drive (e.g., an optical drive that is partof a USB device 465 or that connects to storage interface 480), or otherstorage medium. Additionally, applications can be in the form ofelectronic signals modulated in accordance with the application and datacommunication technology when accessed via network interface 485.

Storage interface 480, as with the other storage interfaces of computersystem 400, can connect to a standard computer readable medium forstorage and/or retrieval of information, such as a fixed disk drive 475.Fixed disk drive 475 may be a part of computer system 400 or may beseparate and accessed through other interface systems. A modem connectedto the network interface 485 may provide a direct connection to a remoteserver via a telephone link or to the Internet via an internet serviceprovider (ISP). Network interface 485 may provide a direct connection toa remote server via a direct link to the Internet via a POP (point ofpresence). Network interface 485 may provide such connection usingwireless techniques, including digital cellular telephone connection,Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) connection, digital satellite dataconnection or the like.

Many other devices or subsystems (not shown) may be connected in asimilar manner (e.g., document scanners, digital cameras and so on).Conversely, all of the devices shown in FIG. 4 need not be present topractice the present systems and methods. The devices and subsystems canbe interconnected in different ways from that shown in FIG. 4. Theoperation of a computer system such as that shown in FIG. 4 is readilyknown in the art and is not discussed in detail in this application.Code to implement the present disclosure can be stored in anon-transitory computer-readable medium such as one or more of systemmemory 415, or fixed disk 475. The operating system provided on computersystem 400 may be MS-DOS®, MS-WINDOWS®, OS/2®, UNIX®, Linux®, or anotherknown operating system.

Moreover, regarding the signals and network communications describedherein, those skilled in the art will recognize that a signal can bedirectly transmitted from a first block to a second block, or a signalcan be modified (e.g., amplified, attenuated, delayed, latched,buffered, inverted, filtered, or otherwise modified) between the blocks.Although the signals of the above described embodiments arecharacterized as transmitted from one block to the next, otherembodiments of the present systems and methods may include modifiedsignals in place of such directly transmitted signals as long as theinformational and/or functional aspect of the signal is transmittedbetween blocks. To some extent, a signal input at a second block can beconceptualized as a second signal derived from a first signal outputfrom a first block due to physical limitations of the circuitry involved(e.g., there will inevitably be some attenuation and delay). Therefore,as used herein, a second signal derived from a first signal includes thefirst signal or any modifications to the first signal, whether due tocircuit limitations or due to passage through other circuit elementswhich do not change the informational and/or final functional aspect ofthe first signal.

Various inventions have been described herein with reference to certainspecific embodiments and examples. However, they will be recognized bythose skilled in the art that many variations are possible withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the inventions disclosed herein,in that those inventions set forth in the claims below are intended tocover all variations and modifications of the inventions disclosedwithout departing from the spirit of the inventions. The terms“including:” and “having” come as used in the specification and claimsshall have the same meaning as the term “comprising.”

What is claimed:
 1. A programmable food preparation system, comprising:a food preparation apparatus, comprising: a mixing container; a mixingtool extending into the mixing container; a motor configured to apply atorque to the mixing tool; a controller unit connected to the motor andconfigured to control an operational setting of the motor; a firstwireless communication interface in communication with the controllerunit; a remote control device, comprising: a computing device configuredto receive operational parameters of the motor; a second wirelesscommunication interface configured to connect to the first wirelesscommunication interface to transfer the operational parameters to thecontroller unit using the computing device; wherein the controller unitis configured to control the operational setting of the motor accordingto the operational parameters for preparing food in the mixing containerusing the mixing tool.
 2. The programmable food preparation system ofclaim 1, wherein the remote control device comprises a connection to theInternet and is configured to receive the operational parameters of themotor via the connection to the Internet.
 3. The programmable foodpreparation system of claim 1, wherein the remote control devicecomprises a user interface and is configured to receive the operationalparameters of the motor via the user interface.
 4. The programmable foodpreparation system of claim 3, wherein the user interface istouch-sensitive and positioned within a housing of the food preparationapparatus.
 5. The programmable food preparation system of claim 1,wherein the remote control device is portable.